Issuing a statement on International Women’s Day, progressive party Volt Malta reminded the population that the European Parliament declared sexual and reproductive rights as human rights.
The party unveiled its stance that we need to make significant progress to live up to those ideals, working towards gender equality especially when it comes to bodily autonomy.
Outlining its principles, the party said that citizens need to be empowered with correct information growing up, regardless of which schools they go to. Schools ‘must teach an age-appropriate Standard Factual & Inclusive Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights Curriculum. Furthermore, the party aims to make use of public and private media to educate the adult population who didn’t have the opportunity to learn correct information growing up.’
The party is also aiming to widely increase accessibility to contraceptives, classifying them as essential medicines and products. They must be made free from public healthcare institutions and reimbursable from private outlets.
The party wishes to adopt the Fraser Guidelines to ensure individuals who are under 16 are not excluded from them. Accessibility should also be extended to the morning after pill, with the Copper IUD introduced as an emergency contraceptive.
Thomas Kass Mallia aid that every year youths younger than 16 are getting pregnant and that it would be naive to exclude them from access to contraceptives.
Volt also said that abortion should be decriminalised in Malta as it is a healthcare matter not a criminal one. ‘Furthermore, the party believes Malta should legalise Medical abortions. A process that involves using Mifepristone & Misoprostone within the first 12 weeks of the pregnancy.’
The party concluded by saying that it would ensure that it is possible to perform surgery under exceptional, especially life-saving circumstances. The process should also be coupled with abortion after care services.
‘‘It’s 2022, and women are still seen as incubators in the eyes of the law. How many more years are we going to keep the status quo?’’ said Alexia DeBono, Volt Malta Candidate.
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